Traditional glam meets eloquent elegance in this Indian wedding hailing from the sunny state of California in the wonderful city of San Jose! Maharani Neha wed her beau at the gorgeous Dolce Hayes Mansion. Even the name screams lavish luxury! Nestled on a private, lavish estate this venue is ideal for those brides seeking spacious quarters that helms both a charismatic and historic charm. Neha began her day by getting beautified with Lavina Shah. She was then draped to perfection in a stunning red, raw silk lengha with sequin embroidery styled with a matching red net dupatta. Because of the gorgeous days that we are blessed with here in California, the couple opted for an outdoor wedding in the splendid courtyard. Adding to the flair and beauty of an Indian wedding, Milaap Events channeled inner flowery ambiance with a gorgeous mandap covered in colorful roses and carnations. Guests sat comfortably in luxury Chiavari chairs with the bride and groom perched atop designer teakwood chairs provided by Milaap Events. Guests were invited to the numerous events with one of a kind stationary from Jaee Designs. Purvey Shah of Avant Planners has planned an excellent escapade into a modern yet luxurious Indian wedding with a gallery full of inspiration captured by Anita Martin Photography. We have a special holiday treat from the bride herself! Read on below as she spills the details on her lavish event!
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How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We actually met through a dating website. Our first date was lunch at a local restaurant, which was completely out of character for me since I almost always do coffee for a first meeting. I knew he was the one within a month of dating him. He was so thoughtful, kind and such a gentleman. He was genuinely interested in me and I remember being so excited to tell my best friend after our first kiss!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
I had somewhat of an idea when he was going to propose since there was a buzz about it between us, my friends and family. I caught the clue the day it happened when he started acting a little strange--asking me what my plans were and if I would be able to "dress up" in the middle of the day. We walked over to my favorite park by my house and as I turned the corner, I saw a bench in the rose garden elegantly decorated and his brother off to the side taking photographs. As soon as he popped the question, both of our families came out from behind the rose bushes and surprised me! We then whisked away to spend the remaining weekend in Napa at our favorite winery. It was a perfectly sweet proposal!
Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
Well, I am generally an extremely organized type of person so I basically made Google sheets that I shared with everyone involved. It was an easy way for everyone to keep up to date and contribute to the planning process. I am pretty sure I would have gone insane without them.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I perused a lot of Pinterest photos but didn't have anything specific in mind. We tried dozens of stores in India, and as it classically happens, I just knew it was the one.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
It would probably be actually selecting the colors, flowers and decor. Oh and the cake tasting!
What did your guest particularly love about your Wedding?
Our food was phenomenal and the DJ was great. We all really enjoyed the reception dancing and kept it up until well beyond closing time!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Most definitely the moment Kevin sees me at the Mandap. We had actually already seen each other during our photoshoot prior to the ceremony, but I think it was the buildup of the actual ceremony which made this snapshot extra special. His cousins held up a white sheet between us and I remember getting teary eyed seeing him for the "first" time after they dropped the sheet.
For events other than your ceremony, please tell us as much as you would like about the decor, style, dances, and all the special details.
The dances were incredibly fun! Kevin's cousin was our wedding choreographer essentially because she choreographed almost everyone's dances--an not just for the reception, but also some small performances during the baraat! She did an amazing job and we could not have pulled off such a beautiful wedding without her.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Stay calm. Being organized will be your best friend. As long as you know there is a plan, things will get done. It took me some time to get used to handing off responsibilities, but it will save your life. Take your creative strengths and apply them to the wedding, but divvy out the rest. And don't be afraid to ask your fiance for help.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Something I really appreciated we did was to choose bright and vibrant colors, because they not only look beautiful in person but they photograph amazingly with all the colorful Indian outfits.
We are not quite done yet! Head on back as we explore this gorgeous mansion for the reception party!
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